An organic underwear business which took on a pop-up shop in the Covered Market wants to extend its stay.
Y.O.U Underwear, run by Sarah Jordan, was one of four businesses in November taking advantage of a programme commissioned by market landlords the city council and delivered by Makespace Oxford, seeking to re-use space in Oxfordshire’s urban centres.
The market and Makespace Oxford linked up to offer short-term leases to four retailers, including Y.O.U, that have social and environmental ideals close to their hearts.
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The arrangement was set to run until the end of February but now Ms Jordan said she and her team would like to stay on for longer.
She added: “It has gone very well. Perhaps it was not the best time to start a shop but it has given us the opportunity to talk to customers, which has been brilliant.
“The arrangement ended at the end of February but it has now been extended until the end of March and I’m hopeful we can stay for longer.”
Mr Jordan, a former pupil of Headington School, grew up in the city and still lives here.
The business was launched in 2016 to sells sustainable, organic underwear with a focus on ethical supply chains.
She said on Y,O.U’s website: “It all started when I travelled out to East Africa in 2016 and did some community volunteer work as part of the Uganda Marathon. I was shocked at the number of women and children I met who didn’t have access to something we take for granted every day - underwear.
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“I believe that underwear should be universally available to people in all communities. To take steps towards making this a reality, I decided to create a business that sells underwear on a buy-one-give-two model. It’s really quite simple!”
The company’s underwear comes from a factory in Calcutta and Ms Jordan is confident the workers there are treated well as she went there in 2019 to see them.
She added: “I came home knowing these people are being well looked after.”
As well as selling underwear in the store, the business has 2,500 customers online in 35 countries.
The brightly coloured Mara collection, inspired by Masai beadwork is selling well.
“They’re really funky prints and they soon stop customers in their tracks,” Ms Jordan added.
A matching set made from organic cotton costs from £32 upwards.
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The other three Makespace businesses, who were matched with the units from a pool of over 300 applicants to the ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire’ programme, were Ducky Zebra, a start-up creating colourful, sustainable clothing for children; The Woolhound, an independent yarn and craft store; and Headington Fair Trade, a shop selling ethical and fairly-traded food, homewares, stationery and more.
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